Restaurant in Zingem, Belgium
OAD-ranked; worth the East Flanders detour.
Benoit et Bernard Dewitt in Kruisem, near Zingem, holds back-to-back OAD Top Restaurants in Europe rankings and a 4.8 Google score across 377 reviews. Chef Benoit Dewitt's Modern European kitchen operates Tuesday to Friday only, lunch and dinner. Book two to three weeks ahead, call directly to reserve, and expect a structured format at the higher end of the regional market.
Yes, and sooner rather than later. Benoit et Bernard Dewitt has earned back-to-back recognition on the Opinionated About Dining (OAD) Leading Restaurants in Europe list, climbing from a recommended newcomer in 2023 to ranked #495 in 2024 and #503 in 2025. For a small Modern European restaurant on Beertegemstraat 52 in Kruisem, near Zingem in East Flanders, that is a significant footprint in a competitive category. The restaurant operates on a tight weekly schedule, Tuesday through Friday only, with both a lunch and dinner service each day. That four-day window, combined with growing OAD visibility, means availability moves faster than you might expect for a room outside the major Belgian cities.
Chef Benoit Dewitt runs a Modern European kitchen that has drawn consistent attention from one of the more demanding peer-review systems in European dining. OAD rankings are driven by votes from frequent restaurant-goers and industry figures, making a top-500 placement meaningful rather than ceremonial. A Google rating of 4.8 across 377 reviews adds a separate data point: this is not a venue coasting on a single award cycle. The consistency between professional recognition and guest response is the clearest signal that the kitchen is doing something right, meal after meal.
The format here rewards diners who want focus over spectacle. With service running from 12:00–1:30 pm at lunch and 7:00–8:30 pm at dinner, sittings are structured and unhurried within those windows. That tight timing suggests a set or semi-set format rather than a long à la carte grazing session, which suits the explorer who wants to eat what the kitchen is cooking rather than assemble a meal from a menu. If you prefer open-ended dining with full à la carte freedom, factor that in before booking.
The editorial angle worth noting for first-timers: the scale of the operation in a village setting in East Flanders means the dining room is likely intimate. Rooms of this type in the Flemish restaurant tradition often feature a kitchen or chef's counter experience, where proximity to the kitchen is part of the appeal. At a restaurant with a named chef operating at this recognition level, counter or pass-adjacent seating often delivers the most direct engagement with the food and the team. Ask about seating options when you reserve.
Reservations: Book via phone or direct contact; no website is listed in available data, so calling is your most reliable route. Hours: Tuesday to Friday, lunch 12:00–1:30 pm, dinner 7:00–8:30 pm; closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Address: Beertegemstraat 52, 9750 Kruisem, Belgium. Budget: Price range is not published, but OAD top-500 placement in Belgium typically corresponds to a tasting menu or prix-fixe format at the higher end of the regional market. Plan accordingly and confirm directly. Dress: No formal code published; smart casual is a safe baseline for a restaurant at this recognition level in the Flemish countryside.
Book if you are a food-focused traveller already in East Flanders or willing to make a specific trip for a serious meal outside Ghent or Bruges. The OAD ranking and near-perfect Google score make this worth a detour from the city. If you want a guaranteed Michelin-starred experience in the region, consider Hof van Cleve in Kruishoutem as your benchmark comparison, or Vrijmoed in Gent if you prefer staying urban. For broader exploration of where Benoit et Bernard Dewitt sits in the regional dining picture, see our full Zingem restaurants guide.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benoit et Bernard Dewitt | Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked #495 (2025); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked #503 (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top New Restaurants in Europe Recommended (2023) | — | |
| Boury | Michelin 3 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Comme chez Soi | Michelin 1 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
| Vrijmoed | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
| La Durée | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Cuchara | Michelin 2 Star | €€€€ | — |
A quick look at how Benoit et Bernard Dewitt measures up.
No bar seating is documented for Benoit et Bernard Dewitt. This is a formal Modern European kitchen, not a drop-in bar-dining format. check the venue's official channels before assuming any walk-in or counter option exists.
This is a destination-worthy restaurant in Kruisem, about 20 minutes from Ghent, open only Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner. It ranked #495 on OAD's Top Restaurants in Europe in 2025 and was a recommended new restaurant in 2023 — so it has a short but consistent track record. Come prepared: no website is publicly listed, so book by phone. This is not a casual drop-in.
Specific menu details are published details are limited for Benoit et Bernard Dewitt. Given the OAD ranking and Modern European format under Chef Benoit Dewitt, the kitchen almost certainly runs a set menu or tasting format — ask when you book whether there is a la carte choice or a fixed progression, so you arrive with the right expectations. Check the venue's official channels for the latest details.
Lunch is the more practical choice if you are travelling from Ghent or Bruges for a day trip — service runs 12 to 1:30 pm Tuesday through Friday, which fits neatly into a wider East Flanders itinerary. Dinner (7 to 8:30 pm) suits those staying locally or making a standalone evening trip. The kitchen and menu are likely consistent across both services, so the decision is logistical rather than culinary.
Yes, provided the occasion suits a serious, food-focused evening rather than a big celebratory group dinner. An OAD Top 500 European ranking signals a kitchen cooking at a high level, and the Tue–Fri format and short service windows suggest a controlled, intimate dining room. Call ahead to discuss any specific occasion needs, since no booking platform or website is publicly listed.
There are no comparable OAD-ranked restaurants in Zingem itself. For serious dining in the region, Vrijmoed in Ghent is the closest peer with a broader public profile and easier booking infrastructure. If you are open to Antwerp or Brussels, the options expand significantly — but for this specific level of cooking in a rural East Flanders setting, Benoit et Bernard Dewitt has no direct local substitute.
Group capacity details are not publicly documented. Given the Tue–Fri-only schedule and tight 90-minute service windows, this is likely a small dining room — check the venue's official channels before planning any group larger than four. Private dining availability is unknown, so do not assume it exists.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
